{"id":39221,"date":"2026-01-22T16:36:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T21:36:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/?p=39221"},"modified":"2026-01-28T17:04:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T22:04:00","slug":"what-is-classical-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-classical-music\/","title":{"rendered":"What is classical music? A beginner\u2019s guide to history, composers, and key works"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What <em>is<\/em> classical music?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Classical music is usually associated with fancy concert halls and orchestras filled with string, brass, and woodwind instruments\u2014ensembles so big that a conductor will lead them through each piece of music. These pieces often feature approaches to <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-rhythm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rhythm,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-melody\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">melody,<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-harmony\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">harmony<\/a> that might feel somewhat \u201cconventional\u201d or \u201cdated,\u201d especially when compared to today\u2019s radio hits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It can be easy to get the impression that all classical music sounds the same or is constrained by its own traditions, but peeling back the curtain reveals a rich history that spans multiple decades and distinct sonic movements. In this article, we explore what makes a piece of music \u201cclassical\u201d and dive into the genre&#8217;s sonic journey through the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feel free to use the table of contents below to easily navigate to a specific section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you&#8217;ll learn:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Understanding\"><strong>Understanding classical music<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Origins\"><strong>Origins and evolution<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Elements\"><strong>Key elements<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Periods\"><strong>Important periods and composers<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Baroque\"><strong>Baroque<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Classical\"><strong>Classical<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Romantic\"><strong>Romantic<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Modernism\"><strong>20th century and modernism<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Understanding\">Understanding classical music<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Origins\">Origins and evolution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The term <strong>classical music<\/strong> (more specifically, <strong>western classical music<\/strong>) usually refers to the work of European composers written in the second half of the 1700s and the first half of the 1800s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the origins and impact of this genre stretch well beyond these boundaries. Its roots can be traced back to early liturgical traditions of the Christian church in the Middle Ages. The official religious music of that time was known as <strong>plainchant<\/strong> or <strong>plainsong<\/strong>\u2014a single melody sung in unison, following the rhythm of the text being recited. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HYzPR0nwcmY&amp;list=RDHYzPR0nwcmY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gregorian chant<\/a> is the most well-known style of plainsong, dating all the way back to the eighth century; it instantly makes you think \u201cmedieval\u201d when you hear it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Hildegard of Bingen: De Spiritu Sancto (Holy Spirit, The Quickener Of Life)\" width=\"370\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HYzPR0nwcmY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, the approach to music creation gradually shifted from the single-melody <strong>monophonic<\/strong> approach of a Gregorian chant to <strong>polyphony,<\/strong> in which multiple melodies are written to harmonize with one another. This formal music theory began to be taught and the art form continued to grow in its melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic complexities. The end result is the characteristic sound we associate with classical music today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Elements\">Key elements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While classical music has seen literal centuries of evolution, a few core elements have remained pretty consistent throughout that journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Written notation:<\/strong> A strong reliance on what we refer to as <strong>sheet music<\/strong> was absolutely key in order to fully capture a composer\u2019s ideas on paper. Of course, it also enables the live performance of their piece by a musician or ensemble.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Structured forms:<\/strong> These pieces often fell into specific categories, each with their own rules. For example, a <strong>sonata<\/strong> is written for a solo instrument (like a violin), often with an accompaniment like a piano, and usually consists of four <strong>movements<\/strong> (or sections). Compare that to a <strong>symphony,<\/strong> which usually consists of four longer movements and is composed for a full orchestra of around a hundred musicians! Dozens upon dozens of different forms were introduced over the years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Craft and complexity:<\/strong> Compositional skill is valued from multiple angles. From the methodical sculpting of harmony and rhythm to the introduction and repetition of motifs or themes, the music\u2019s meaning is closely tied to the composer and is meant to evoke a deeply intellectual and emotional response from the listener beyond just simple entertainment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Live performance:<\/strong> Since the vast majority of classical music was written before the invention of sound recording technology, the only way for you to hear it on its release was in a live setting like a church or a concert hall.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Acoustic instrumentation:<\/strong> Similarly, a general absence of electronics during these times meant that the human voice as well as handcrafted instruments like <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\/genres\/classical\/samples?tags=37601a83-36a3-4213-8d90-6f1a8dc81d9f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">strings,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\/genres\/classical\/samples?tags=6ee76ea2-73c8-4788-9a27-9460281dfdbe&amp;tags=7893eb56-073b-4c2d-a81d-c3db19b4320f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">brass,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\/genres\/classical\/samples?tags=6ee76ea2-73c8-4788-9a27-9460281dfdbe&amp;tags=cd08a7d7-1aa7-41d6-8dca-a6d1ae6765ea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">woodwinds,<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\/genres\/classical\/samples?tags=8db1fa7d-2ac6-4fae-9f97-fdb13690135b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">percussion<\/a> were ever-present. The result is an incredibly strong sonic aesthetic that often makes it tough to separate music from the concept of \u201cclassical\u201d once an orchestra is involved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Periods\">Important periods and composers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve set the stage, let\u2019s explore what some of the most iconic movements in classical music brought to the table. While the Medieval and Renaissance periods do contain that aforementioned important shift from monophony to polyphony, the Baroque period is\u2014in my humble opinion\u2014where things really start to pop off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Baroque\">Baroque<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Stretching from 1600 to 1750, the Baroque period saw the birth of numerous popular dramatic forms like opera, oratorio, fugue, sonata, and concerto. Not only that, but <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-melody\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the major-minor tonal system<\/a> of music theory was also introduced during this era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and George Frideric Handel are easily the most well-known Baroque composers, and for good reason\u2014their music transcends time. While ensemble works like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZPdk5GaIDjo&amp;list=RDZPdk5GaIDjo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vivaldi\u2019s <em>Four Seasons<\/em> violin concerto<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=usfiAsWR4qU&amp;list=RDusfiAsWR4qU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Handel\u2019s <em>Messiah<\/em> oratorio<\/a> are instantly recognizable to this day, don\u2019t sleep on those solo pieces. My top picks are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qRWYGRBVDps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bach\u2019s suites for solo cello<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=15ezpwCHtJs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">his <em>Goldberg Variations<\/em>,<\/a> which were originally composed for harpsichord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: Sarabande\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qRWYGRBVDps?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Goldberg Variations Complete (J.S. Bach BWV 988), with score, Kimiko Ishizaka piano\" width=\"370\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/15ezpwCHtJs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Classical\">Classical<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While sacred music (which characterized much of the Baroque period) was still composed during the Classical era of 1750 &#8211; 1820, balance shifted towards secular music due to changing social and philosophical factors in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where the genre really hit its stride, in part because composers focused on refining concepts from prior periods. Forms like the symphony and sonata were further elevated in their importance, notation became more detailed to help performers interpret sheet music more precisely, and ensembles expanded to include new instruments like woodwinds or replace existing ones (like the piano overtaking the harpsichord).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qPx4m5FJRaE&amp;list=RDqPx4m5FJRaE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joseph Haydn<\/a> is known as the \u201cFather of the Symphony,\u201d then I think <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=r_oK8dKIBYc&amp;list=RDr_oK8dKIBYc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart<\/a> could be coined \u201cthe Prolific Prodigy\u201d (he wrote <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=z6mP4Vo2uvo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">his first piece<\/a> at five years old), and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=n3EiRynr1Us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ludwig van Beethoven<\/a> would be \u201cthe Titan of Transformation.\u201d Why transformation? His earlier work was definitely rooted in Classical ideals, but then evolved to essentially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4Tr0otuiQuU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bridge the stylistic gap between this era and the next<\/a>\u2014truly ahead of its time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Mozart: Symphony No. 41 Jupiter | Hartmut Haenchen &amp; Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Chamber Orchestra\" width=\"370\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0vfU4cmdx-s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Romantic\">Romantic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The period between 1820 and 1900 experienced a shift away from the more rigid, formal nature of the Classical era towards more adventurous compositions that emphasized individualism, emotion, and narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sources of expression ranged widely from core human feelings like passion and anguish to concepts of national identity, folklore, and fantasy. These features were deeply influenced by the intellectual and artistic movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries known as <strong>Romanticism.<\/strong> Along with more virtuosic performances and larger orchestral ensembles, music of the Romantic era saw greater use of techniques like <strong>rubato<\/strong> (expressive shifts in tempo), even more intense shifts in <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/dynamics-and-silence-in-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>dynamics<\/strong><\/a> (loud vs. soft), and expanded harmonic language like <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-key-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>key changes<\/strong><\/a> and <strong>dissonance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-blog-splice wp-block-embed-blog-splice\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"M2UhXXdhfB\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-key-change\/\">What is a key change and why does it matter?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;What is a key change and why does it matter?&#8221; &#8212; Blog | Splice\" src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-key-change\/embed\/#?secret=Nlwt16plEF#?secret=M2UhXXdhfB\" data-secret=\"M2UhXXdhfB\" width=\"370\" height=\"209\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LiYGMlCUMUE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Frederic Chopin<\/a> is among the most famous Romantic composers, especially known for his introspective solo piano works like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=E3qHO9aOQYM&amp;list=RDE3qHO9aOQYM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Nocturnes<\/em><\/a> series. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LdH1hSWGFGU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Franz Liszt<\/a> strove to make classical music more accessible to the general public through electrifying and virtuosic performances (before Beatlemania, there was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3sjCA8OPobw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cLizstomania\u201d<\/a>). Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky brought forth some of the most iconic ballets including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0GsajWIF3ws\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Swan Lake<\/em><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zV1qLYukTH8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>The<\/em> <em>Nutcracker<\/em><\/a>, while Wagner\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xeRwBiu4wfQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Nibelung<\/em><\/a> trilogy chronicled the downfall of gods in epic operatic fashion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Modernism\">20th century and modernism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As the Romantic period gave way to the 20th century, classical music splintered into an increasingly unique array of styles and movements. This diversification included experiments with new compositional approaches and influences from other genres like <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-jazz-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">jazz<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-american-folk-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">folk.<\/a> This new era of <strong>modernism<\/strong> contains multitudes, so let\u2019s cover some of the greatest hits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Impressionism <\/strong>was characterized by evocative soundscapes that eschewed more traditional approaches to melody and musical narrative in favor of freeform melodies, loose rhythms, and unusual scales. Like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/essays\/impressionism-art-and-modernity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the artistic movement of the same name,<\/a> the goal of this music was to represent abstract concepts like emotion and atmosphere through fresh techniques and perspectives. Look no further than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mRtXRNKY7Mw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the dreamlike works of Maurice Ravel<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-Bxpm0EmOMU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Claude Debussy.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Elizabeth Sombart | M. Ravel | Jeux d&#039;eau, M.30\" width=\"370\" height=\"278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mRtXRNKY7Mw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The concept of <strong>atonality<\/strong> (no musical key or tonal center) was perhaps the defining feature of classical music during this century, with movements like <strong>expressionism <\/strong>led by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=U-pVz2LTakM&amp;list=RDU-pVz2LTakM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arnold Schoenberg.<\/a> Elements of his compositional philosophy would influence many other iconic composers of the time including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Z50Ooqv1GFg&amp;list=RDZ50Ooqv1GFg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">B\u00e9la Bart\u00f3k<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EkwqPJZe8ms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Igor Stravinsky<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HAnVrdQ3qFk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alexander Scriabin,<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zYpBHc8px_U\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oliver Messiaen.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the decades after World War II, <strong>minimalism <\/strong>took form in America as a reaction of sorts against expressionist aesthetics like complexity, density, instability, and contrast.&nbsp;Composers like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FAefiZXIg7c&amp;list=RDFAefiZXIg7c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Steve Reich<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=M73x3O7dhmg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Philip Glass<\/a> defined the movement through their focus on repetition, gradual transformation, and sonic immersion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-a2553ace67bd9f659e3277c27d32f07e\" style=\"background-color:#62daff\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/instrument\/packs\/glass-piano\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Incorporate the sound of Philip Glass&#8217; iconic piano into your own compositions with Glass Piano.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Classical music\u2019s intricate and enduring history can make it a real challenge to talk about in any kind of overarching way. However, what&#8217;s for certain is that the countless contributions from talented composers over the years really cemented this genre as a core influence for so many others, from rock and metal to pop and film scoring. It may still seem antiquated or \u201cone-note\u201d to some, but I believe classical music\u2019s greatest strength is in how it keeps inspiring us to discover, revisit, and reinterpret its legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Explore artist-crafted one-shots, loops, and more that embody the sound of classical music:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\/genres\/classical\/samples\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Explore the sounds<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the origins of classical music, explore its renowned composers, and learn about the key works that have shaped this timeless genre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":39224,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1696],"tags":[1894,1386,1254],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Is Classical Music? A Beginner\u2019s Guide - Blog | Splice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the origins of classical music, explore its renowned composers, and learn about the key works that have shaped this timeless genre.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-classical-music\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is Classical Music? 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